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Silestone Seaport as the guiding thread in a renovation project that reinterprets the industrial style
Marcelo Rodrigues
Location
Vale de Figueira, Santarém (Portugal)
Material
Silestone
Application
Kitchen, bathroom, staircase
Quantity
30 m2
Architecture/Design
Marcelo Rodrigues
Colour
Seaport
Thickness: 8 mm
12 mm, 20 mm
End date
2023
As in the world of fashion, the world of architecture and interior design is also undergoing a continuous evolution and reinterpretation of styles. This house in Vale de Figueira, in Santarém (Portugal), is an exceptional example of how the industrial style has been reinvented and embellished through the innovative use of one material: Silestone Seaport. This hybrid surface of minerals and recycled materials with an evocative resemblance to dark, weathered cement is the signature element of the space and takes the industrial aesthetic to the top, literally, if you take a look at the stairs.
The material was carefully chosen for the kitchen, the bathroom and, above all, the staircase that connects the two floors of the house and thus acts as a guiding thread. The Portuguese architect Marcelo Rodrigues, the mastermind behind this transformation project, has shared with us his vision of the project: “The most interesting thing is the harmonious connection between the different spaces, with the central staircase elevating and extending the finish on the upper floor”. This creates fluidity and a visual journey as one moves up through the house.
A visual journey through three spaces in dialogue with the same material
The kitchen is presented as a sanctuary of industrial elegance where Silestone Seaport acts as its heart and soul. Its grey tones, its texture and the white nuances that stand out on its surface contrast with the neutral colour used for the kitchen furniture, resulting in a sober, timeless and at the same time modern space, in which pure lines are the key.
In the bathroom on the upper floor, Silestone Seaport makes its second star appearance in the project. In this part of the house, perhaps the most intimate, this cement-like surface is the star of the washbasin and the shower alcove, the latter a very original and trendy element. According to Marcelo Rodrigues: “We chose Silestone Seaport because of its beauty, homogeneity, strength and durability, factors that make it an invaluable material and take architecture to the next level”.
However, the most impressive element of the flat is undoubtedly its main staircase, where Cosentino’s hybrid surface of minerals and recycled materials is the axis around which the design revolves. Its steps, carefully crafted from this unique material, take on a sculptural and contemporary character. According to Marcelo Rodrigues: “The idea was to use this cement-like material as the base for the zigzag interior staircase while maintaining its lightweight structure. Given the proximity to the kitchen/peninsula, it was important to connect the spaces seamlessly and harmoniously”.
And he continues: “The end result is fantastic and sober, exactly as it was intended”. For an architect and interior designer it is essential to have the right tools to bring to life what is conceived on paper. This is how this house has succeeded in giving a twist to the industrial style that originated in the New York loft apartments of the 1950s. From New York to Portugal. It can be done, but with a custom touch.